Tag: Organic gardening

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What is Permaculture – A Primer in Pictures and Patterns – PART 1

Michael Hoag

Is it a community of doomer hippies? An incomprehensible internet meme for do-gooders who hate lawns and love fermenting things? A clever rebranding scheme for the organic farming movement thought up by wayward corporate marketing gurus? A cult for Gaia-worshipping environmentalists? A secret society for foraging herbalist hedgewitches? WHAT IS PERMACULTURE?  After 6 years, 100 posts, over 100,000 page views, and hundreds of followers, I’ve never written a post answering that question!  Why?  Because there are already so many good treatments of the topic on the nets. Why re-re-reinvent the wheel when the internet’s rolling along just merily without me. … Continue reading What is Permaculture – A Primer in Pictures and Patterns – PART 1

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Fall clean up VS. chop & drop, mulch, and wildlife habitat

Michael Hoag

Question and Discussion: Eliminate debris to reduce pests and diseases (clean garden practice) VS mulching, chop & drop and creating wildlife habitat: which is better?  Question from one of our students:  “I’ve read that one major way to inhibit garden pests organically is to eliminate debris to get rid of places the pests hide.  But you taught us the value of mulching and chop and drop which also make sense.  So I have been putting freshly chopped leaves down in the fall.  I think it helps with weeds and retaining moisture and must also add organic content.  But I am … Continue reading Fall clean up VS. chop & drop, mulch, and wildlife habitat